A plea has gone out for help with an acute shortage of lollipop men and women in the city.

Road safety bosses made a plea for more people to help children across busy roads in Coventry because nearly a third of the city's crossing patrol jobs remain unfilled.

So far they have only been able to recruit enough people to replace new leavers, not make up the shortfall. The shortage - which has left 46 of the 147 roads without a patrol - has been a problem across the city for the past two years.

In an attempt to boost the number of wardens, the upper age limit of 75 was scrapped altogether last summer - but it hasn't solved the problem.

Senior road safety assistant Maureen Johnson said there were a variety of reasons for people leaving.

But she added: "The people who leave have always enjoyed the job. We have had people with us for years and years.

"The wardens enjoy being part of the community. Anyone fit and healthy, young or old, male or female, should apply."

Crossing wardens are paid #4.97 an hour and work seven and a half hours a week.

Doreen Mills has been a city lollipop lady for more than 30 years. She started when her son was six. She said: "It is a convenient job for a parent as you get all the same holidays as your child."

If you want to find out more about becoming a warden, call the road safety team on 024 7683 2024.